Our Opinion: Unloading

Leon County wants your hazardous waste

With billions of dollars spent this Christmas season on new computers, entertainment gadgets and other household items, you know there are people enjoying their new toys all over Leon County.

Stop by some of the sprawling apartment complexes or glance at your neighbor's trash and you'll also see that many people are in turn tossing out their old items - from televisions to cans of paint.

Leon County's Solid Waste Management Division is offering you an alternative Saturday by sponsoring a Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics collection. It runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the county's public works center, 2280 Miccosukee Road. If you can't make it this Saturday, you also can bring items to the county's Hazardous Waste Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 7550 Apalachee Parkway.

This is an opportunity to take stock of items that have been taking up space in the garage or in your residence until you decide what do with them. It's also a convenient outlet for those who are wrapping up holiday visits to Tallahassee and taking stock of what can be discarded.

This is a huge operation. In the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, Leon County collected 440 tons of hazardous waste materials, and it is on track to beat that figure this year. In addition, 550 tons of electronics scrap was collected. Those items are disassembled and recycled in the U.S.

On Saturday, the county is allowing you to bring up to 50 pounds of hazardous waste in addition to old electronics items. There are some guidelines. For instance, only one large-screen television per vehicle, one tire per person, only propane tanks weighing 40 pounds or less and a limit of 25 fluorescent tubes per vehicle.

As for the tubes, it's best to seal them in their original boxes. If you can't, the county suggests you tie groups of tubes together and protect them with some form of padding, since they're easily broken. (Visit www.LeonCountyFL.gov/HHW/collection for more information.)

Of course, some items can get messy, so pack items in a box or plastic bag, clearly label all items that you are discarding, and don't mix fragile items such as bulbs with heavier items such as batteries.

Consider it your contribution toward a cleaner environment.

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Our Opinion: Unloading

With billions of dollars spent this Christmas season on new computers, entertainment gadgets and other household items, you know there are people enjoying their new toys all over Leon County.